A very enjoyable, largely off-road route, especially given that bluebells were in full bloom in the woods. It was a very easy route to follow with no confusing choices to make at path junctions. Personally, I preferred WALHEN 1, as I feel that it had more variety in scenery and open farmland....

Theo Elliott

East Ilsley to Wallingford (Easwal 1) review. Note: I walked Wallingford to East Ilsley. Wallingford is an attractive town with plenty of amenities. There is a plaque on the Winterbrook road (Photo 1) with information on the Agatha Christie Trail....

Martin Ellis

The bridleway out from Nuffield looks like it can get rather muddy (Photo 3). There is a brief pavement walk alongside the B481 in Highmoor (Photo 4), and then it is back to enjoying the trees. The approach into Henley crosses a golf course (Photo 7). As with Wallingford, there is plenty to enjoy in Henley....

Martin Ellis

Quickly out of Henley through quiet streets and across a well signed golf course. Some very short section along quiet roads with wide verges, maybe 100m of vergeless roads in total. The paths are variable from wide tracks to undulating, narrow, muddy, rooty, tracks weaving between trees. Where you leave the Ridgeway to head towards Wallingford there is a busy roundabout on the A4047, I managed to cross the roads as shown, but if very busy you can cross the roads bit-by-bit at the roundabout itself....

Strider

This is a varied and pleasant walk through woods, riverside paths, farmland and a cycle path. The alternative path is included in the pictures below if the ferry is not an option....

Strider

For example; at Shillingford the straight line route ignores the bridge (swim?) does not say which of 3 path options to take and flies over private property....

Strider

The footpath on the approach to Benson now weaves through a new housing development. There is an urban walk through Benson, with a break point at The Crown Inn. Alternatively, there is a road route south from Benson into Wallingford, where there are plenty of amenities....

Martin Ellis

An enjoyable walk from Berinsfield, via Dorchester; to then follow the Thames Path National Trail between Shillingford and Wallingford. There is an earlier crossing option [SU575952] or continue along the path for a safer crossing by bridge [SU581948] (Photo 2)....

Martin Ellis

There are opportunities for refreshments at pubs in Stoke Row and Rotherfield Peppard, as well as a well-stocked shop and cafe in Stoke Row....

Theo Elliott

This section of the Thames Path can be quite monotonous, and I think this section is probably the least interesting part. I was quite pleased once I got to the Thames Path again, although it became even more muddy here, and I was sliding all about....

Derick Rethans

It was a pretty steep climb up, and I deliberately took the "long way" around the top of the slightly taller Castle Hill to get a better look at the Thames Valley, and the other slightly smaller clump which housed an iron age hill fort back in the days where that was popular. The paths on the Thames Path were all very muddy, which wasn't quite a surprise as it was winter, but I think I would prefer walking it in summer instead. At Benson the weir was blocked off, which unfortunately meant a diversion away from the Thames Path, first through a little village, then along a busy road for a short stretch, and then along residential roads into Wallington where the first section finished at its historic market square....

Derick Rethans

The footpath that crosses the A4074 as you pass between Berinsfield and Dorchester is hard to spot but the map is accurate, a spot of GPS is handy at that point, there is a footpath sign it is just hidden by the trees....

Edensyard

Slightly longer than perhaps necessary but makes for a better and easier to navigate route. Have done this myself....

Mr M J Fisher

Finally, it uses a small section alongside the Thames (Photo 5) before heading to the centre of Wallingford. It is largely off-road on byways, bridleways and footpaths with only a small section of road (no pavement) into Aston Tirrold....

Ursula

Unfortunately, there is then a long section along Clack’s Lane (Photo 2), which lacks a verge in places. The Slow Way joins The Chiltern Way along a quieter lane. There’s a road walk along the Grove Lane B-road. There is then a pleasant walk south along Shakespeare’s Way (Photo 7)....

Martin Ellis

Easy to walk and easy to follow route, with clear signage following the ridgeway through some pretty villages, past lovely churches and along a picturesque stretch of the Thames....

Liz

I agree with the points made in earlier reviews - this is pleasant, with the only road sections being in Didcot itself - after that you have to cross roads, but not walk along anything of significance. The only slight oddity is that the half of the .gpx file closer to Didcot is often slightly off - this means that looking for exact turning points, or bridges may require a little more thought. But it's all manageable....

Martin McGovern

An enjoyable riverside walk which is essentially part of the Thames Path National Trail. The walk into Wallingford stays with the Thames Path, ending in some street walking to the High Street....

Martin Ellis

An enjoyable walk through the Goring Gap which is both part of the Thames Path and the Ridgeway National Trails. Gorwal 2 follows the east side of the river and is signposted the Ridgeway (the Thames Path is on the opposite bank – see Gorwal 1)....

Martin Ellis

The most challenging section was Clack's Lane, but it isn't easy to see how the route could be adapted to avoid it, without adding a significant southward loop....

Martin McGovern

If you're planning to walk this route and finish with refreshments, then I recommend starting at Berinsfield, because Wallingford has a range of options, while Berinsfield has next to nothing....

Martin McGovern

Significant parts of it are on 'fenced' paths - this can be a benefit as in my experience, paths with fences or hedges on both sides tend to be easier terrain than the edges (or the middles) of fields, particularly in winter when I undertook this route....

Martin McGovern

A scenic and easy-to-navigate route following The Thames Path National Trail. At Moulsford, the Thames Path is routed alongside the A329 Reading Road for just over a km through the village....

Ursula

A pleasant route following The Ridgeway National Trail for roughly the first 9km, passing through the villages of South Stoke, North Stoke and Mongewell. Up to this point the River Thames is largely hidden from view by private gardens but a short walk through the village of South Stoke leads right to the riverbank....

Ursula

Having said this it is a very pleasant walk through rural countryside and takes in the villages of East Hagbourne and South Moreton both with pubs....

Andy Stocks

The pleasant field walk (Photo 2) ends at the Earth Trust Centre (earthtrust.org.uk) which manages the green spaces around the Wittenham Clumps (Photo 3). It’s a slight detour, but Little Wittenham Bridge (Photo 4) is just north of the Clumps: a former venue for the annual Poohsticks championship!...

Martin Ellis

From South Moreton, the Slow Way soon arrives at the Mill Brook which it follows all the way into Wallingford (Photos 1, 2 & 3)....

Martin Ellis

The route continues along English Lane, which is tarmacked as far as English Farm (Photo 3) and a rough path thereafter (Photo 4). The route turns east towards Henley at Peppard Common. The woodland walk into Henley is along the Park and Prime Lane path & bridleway (Photos 11 & 12). As a final point: the Rotherfield Peppard to Henley section is also on the Goring to Henley route (Gorhen 1)....

Martin Ellis

There are a variety of terrains on this route with some narrow, uphill and/or uneven sections - please refer to the photo survey we conducted of this route for further details. Very pleasant walk though with scenic views from Wittenham Clumps and various points of interest en route including Benson Weir and Benson Lock....

Helenry

You cross the river twice; Once at Shillingford and a second time at Benson lock....

RogerGill

You're spoilt for walking in this area and the alternative Wallingford Didcot route takes in the stunning clumps....

RogerGill

There are plenty of places to explore en route; Nuffield church sits a top of the Ridgeway and Stoke Row has the Maharajah's Well....

RogerGill

The route has a few unnecessary little diversions of the Thames path, just ignore and keep to riverside path....

Nick Coleman

If I were to do this again I'd start in Cholsey (with its train station) and cut across to Wallingford alongside the community train line, skip the centre of Wallingford and instead join the Ridgeway much earlier via the bridge further south....

jharris_reading